Mission San Juan Bautista; was founded on the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, June 24, 1797, as a fifteenth of the twenty-one Missions. It was built overlooking the San Andreas Fault. Construction of the present Church began in 1803 and continued for nine years. The sandstone foundation goes to a depth of five feet. The adobe walls are four feet thick. The Church is 190 feet long, 67 feet wide and 40 feet high. It is the largest Church in the Mission chain.

To the left of the Mission are the Padres’ living quarters and guest rooms. This beautiful building has since been converted into a museum, the rooms containing ecclesiastical vestments, Indian Relics, rare religious books and Victorian furniture of the latter Mission Era.

History

Did you know that Dona Esther’s restaurant was named after Alfonso Castaneda’s grandmother? He made a religious promise that one day, if the opportunity presented itself, that he would open up a restaurant in her honor. So, March 22, 1982, Al opened this restaurant in his grandmother’s name to honor and celebrate her life and her love of cooking, especially for her family! So we hope you enjoy her food as much as we all did!